Samsung's Galaxy Ring: A Hands-On First Look at the Stylish Smart Ring
Samsung's long-awaited foray into the smart ring market is finally here! After months of teasing, the Galaxy Ring made its official debut at the recent Unpacked event. While I only had a brief opportunity to try it out, here's my initial impression of this stylish and promising wearable.
Sleek Design and Eye-Catching Charging Case
The Galaxy Ring's hardware immediately impressed me. While its overall design aligns with other smart rings on the market, it offers a refined aesthetic with three color options: gold, silver, and black. The titanium frame feels sturdy, and the gold version, in particular, caught my eye with its shiny finish.
One standout feature is the unique charging case. Its transparent design and LED indicators give it a futuristic look, setting it apart from the puck-shaped docks found with other smart rings. The case is practical, too, as it can hold 1.5 times the ring's charge and offers a total of six to seven days of battery life.
Sizing Matters
Samsung provides a sizing kit for the Galaxy Ring, a crucial step considering the importance of a proper fit for smart rings. The kit allows you to find the perfect size, as fingers can swell or differ slightly in size. The ring comes in nine sizes, ranging from five to 13, with the smaller sizes offering six days of battery life and the larger ones up to seven.
Health Tracking and Galaxy AI
The Galaxy Ring focuses on health tracking, similar to other smart rings like the Oura Ring. It features an accelerometer, optical heart rate sensor, and skin temperature sensor to track sleep, heart rate data, and activity. Samsung is introducing new Galaxy AI-powered metrics like Energy Score and Wellness Tips, which aim to provide personalized insights into your well-being based on your data.
Samsung Ecosystem Integration
The Galaxy Ring is designed to integrate seamlessly with Samsung's ecosystem. While it's compatible with Android phones that can run the Samsung Health app, you'll get the most out of it if you own a Galaxy phone. Features like Energy Score and Find My Ring are exclusive to Galaxy devices, and using it with a Galaxy Watch allows the Samsung Health app to intelligently choose the best data source for optimal tracking and battery life.
One exciting feature is the double pinch gesture, which lets you control your Galaxy phone's camera or dismiss alarms hands-free. This feature is currently limited to the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 but will soon be available on the S24 series.
The Verdict (So Far)
Based on my limited experience, the Galaxy Ring shows great promise. Its sleek design, convenient charging case, and unique features like the double pinch gesture are impressive. However, the ring's true potential lies in its ability to deliver accurate tracking and long battery life. If it can achieve this while leveraging its ecosystem integration, Samsung could redefine the smart ring category.
The Galaxy Ring is available for preorder starting today and will be widely available on July 24th. Stay tuned for a more in-depth review as we put this smart ring to the test in real-world scenarios.
